Sluice gate



J n 1932- E. B. PHILIPS 7 1,862,389

June 7, 1932.

E. B. PHILIPS SLUICE GATE Filed May 16,

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uguutgm'l Erwin B. Phil/pm 1 N VEN TOR.

A TTORNE Y.

Fatented June '2', 1932 EBW'IN B. PHILIPS, F KENTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO PHILIPS AND DAVIS, INQ, 0F KEN- TON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO SLUIGE GATE Application filed May 16, 1928. Serial No. 278,206.

My invention relates to sluice gates. It pertains, particularly, to sluice gates of the vertically reciprocable type and is particularly advantageous in those sluice gates which though it is likewise highly advantageous in those sluice gates operating upon the upstream side of the dam.

I consider it extremely desirable to utilize a type of sluice gate in which the sealing surfaces of the gate and its seat move into sealing contact with each other without sliding or wedging contact. In the past, the majority of sluice gates of this type have been of such a structure that the skin plate of the sluice gate has been inclined with relation to the path of travel of the gate to conform to the inclination of the seal surfaces of the stationary framework complemental to the gate. With such a structure, the water bearing against the skin plate of the gate has a vertical component of force which either resists the movement of the gate into sealing position or resists the movement of the 1 gate away from sealing position, depending upon whether the angle of inclination of the skin plate is upwardly towards the upstream side or upwardly away from the upstream side.

I have provided a novel type of sluice gate construction which retains the feature of movement of the sluice gate without sliding friction into sealing relation to the seals of the framework but which practically eliminates all resistance to the movement of the gate towards or away from its sealing posi tion, with the exception of the frictional resistance of the anti-friction means. In other words, my gate is of such construction that its skin plate is parallel with the path of travel of the gate and that the upward or downward component of force of the water will not be materially effective to resist either the opening or closing of the gate.

More specifically, I have provided a sluice gate wherein the sealing surfaces of the gate and framework are inclined with relation to the path of travel of the gate to maintain the feature of movement of the surfaces into sealing relation without frictional sliding operate on the down-stream side of a dam, al-' action. However, instead of having the skin plate of the gate similarly inclined, mygate skin plate is parallel to the path of travel of the gate and, therefore, ofiers no resistance to the vertical component of force of the water. This would normally leave a space between the upper horizontal sealing surfaces of the gate and the upper horizontal sealing surfaces of the framework, unless a horizontal shelf were provided to bridge this space. I do provide a horizontal shelf to bridge this space but I mount it upon the framework instead of upon the gate and I provide sealing surfaces upon this shelf and complemental sealing surfaces carried by the gate and adapted to move downwardly into contact with the sealing surface upon the shelf. The result is that the gate is sealed, not only at the sides and at the bottom, but at the top also and yet the upward force of the water is effective merely upon the shelf which, being immovably carried by the framework, offers no resistance to the vertical movement of the gate.

The principle of my invention is particularly advantageous in application to a sluice gate with inclined sealing surfaces operating on the down-stream side of a dam. In such a sluice gate, the sealing surfaces of the framework and gate are normally inclined upwardly towards the tip-stream side of the gate. If the skin plate of the gate were similarly inclined, the downward movement of the gate into sealing position would be seriously resisted by the upward component of force of the water on the tip-stream side of the gate. However, under the principles of my invention, the skin plate is not inclined but is parallel to the path of travel of the gate and a shelf is carried by the permanent framework and projects outwardly in a down-stream direction for the receipt of the horizontal sealing surfaces carried by the gate and for the receipt upon its lower side of the upward force of the water. Thus, as the sluice gate is moved downwardly into sealing position, the upward force of the water on the upstream side of the gate, being absorbed by the under surface of the said shelf offers practically no resistance to this downward movement of the gate.

The principle of my invention is also highly advantageous in its application to a sluice gate operating on the Lip-stream side of the sluice-way. In such a sluice gate, the upstream side of the gate would normally be inclined upwardly away from the upstream side of the sluice-way. In this event with previous gate constructions, there would be an ever present downward component of force of the water operating with great force to hold the gate in closed position. With my structure of sluice gate, however, the upstream surface of the gate will be parallel to the path of travel of the gate and the downward force of the water will be expended upon a substantially horizontal shelf carried by the stationary framework which carries the upper horizontal seals of the sluice gate. Thus, as the sluice gate is moved downwardly into sealing position, it travels by its own weight alone and, as it moves upwardly away from sealing position, there is no resistance to this movement by the downward force of the water on the upstream side of the gate, this resistance being entirely absorbed by the shelf which projects outwardly from the framework towards the lip-stream side of the gate.

The frame in which the gate reciproeates and the gate itself are provided with means for effecting a substantially water-tight seal between the gate and the frame or body of the dam. Means are also provided for adjusting the limit of downward movement of the gate to prevent such wedging of the gate between the guides and the frame seal that an excessive amount of lifting force would be needed to open the gate and to prevent injury to the gate and frame seals from force of contact between the moving gate and the frame.

Other objects of my invention and numerous advantageous features thereof may be seen in the following description and the preferred embodiment of my invention may be seen in the accompanying drawings wherein similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts and wherein:

Figure l is a perspective view of a sluiceway and gate constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical section of the sluiceway and gate.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the gate removed.

Figure 4 is a vertical section of a sluiceway and gate constructed in accordance with my invention but showing the gate disposed on the upstream side of a dam.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a portion of the sluice gate and sluice gate frame shown in Figure 4:.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a part of my sluice gate and sluice gate frame showing the top side seals of the gate and framework.

In the drawings, particularly in Figures 1 and 2, I have shown my invention as being associated with a dam or similar retaining wall structure 1 provided with a sluice-way 2 therethrough. The down-stream face of the dam or similar retaining wall structure is cut away as shown in Figure 1 for the reception of a frame 3 that has guideways 3 adapted to receive guides 4 and rollers or other antifriction means 5 which are disposed on opposite sides of a sluice gate 6.

This sluice gate 6 has a relatively flat skin plate preferably disposed in a plane substantially parallel to the path of travel of the sluice gate 2. Extending outwardly in an up-stream direction from the skin plate are spaced triangular portions 7 which are wide at the top and taper towards the bottom. The front edges of these inclined portions 7 form inclined sealing surfaces 8 which cooperate with inclined seals 9 that form a part of the frame 3. The usual bottom sealing surfaces are also provided and these are likewise inclined. A shelf 10 extends outwardly from the frame 3 and is of such width that the inclined outer edge of the shelf will abut and make sealing contact with a sealing surface disposed horizontally across the inner face of the sluice gate 6 when the gate is in such position with respect to the frame as to close the sluice-way 2. Vertically adjustable sealing strips 11 are provided on the inclined portions 7 of the sluice gate 6, which portions interfit between the respective ends of the shelf 10 and the sides of the frame 3. The bottom of these sealing strips are adapted to rest upon the top of the shelf 10 and form a relatively tight seal between the ends of the shelf and the gate.

As shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, the sluice gate 6, when in its lowermost position or that position in which it effectively closes the sluice-way 2, rests upon the heads of screw-bolts 12 which are threaded into blocks 13 disposed at the bottom of the frame 3. By turning these screw-bolts to raise or lower the tops thereof with relation to the blocks 13, the lowermost limit to which the sluice gate 6 may descend will be determined.

In the operation of the sluice gate 6, it will be understood that the gate may be of the self-closing variety or that it may be moved into closed position by the application of pressure thereto. One form of attaching means 14 is shown on the top of the gate 6 whereby some suitable means for applying a lifting force thereto may be readily attached.

As previously stated, the gate 6 is reciprocable in the frame 3 in a path parallel to the path of movement of the gate and is confined to this path of travel by the guides 4 and the roller 5 traveling in the guideways 3 of the frame. If the gate itself'travels in a vertical plane, the vertical sealing surfacesthereof are inclined from the vertical in such a manner and the vertical sealing surfaces ofth'e frame are so disposed that they may be moved into sealing relation without material slidingfriction, that is, without serious wedging action. This is also true of the horizontal sealing surfaces forming contact between the shelf and the bottom of the frame and the skin plate of the gate. I

When lifting force is applied and the gate is thereby moved upwardly, the horizontal sealing surfaces and sealing surfaces 8 leave the sealing surfaces 9 simultaneously with the breaking of the contact between the bottom of the adjustable gate seals 11 and the top of the shelf 10 and simultaneously with the breaking of contact between the bottom of the gate and the tops of the screw-bolts 12. It will be understood that the screw-bolts 12 determine the lowermost position of the gate and they are so adjusted that the respective sealing surfaces will make adequate contact 1 without undesirable pressure or wedging action.

In Figures 4 and 5 I have shown a modified form of my sluice gate in that the gate is constructed to be mounted upon the up-stream end of the sluice-way and is provided with a different form of sealing means and limiting screws so that they may be readily accessible for adjustment from the dry side of the gate. This gate may be designated 15 and is provided with anti-friction rollers 16 or similar anti-friction devices. It may also be provided with guide strips 17. It cooperates with a framework 18 and this framework 18 preferably has sealing surfaces 19 which are inclined upwardly towards the downstream side of the sluice-way.

The gate itself is provided with a skin plate 20 and down-stream face 21 that are preferably parallel with the path of travel of the gate. Projecting from this downstream face 21 are triangular members 22 whose down-stream edges are designed to form sealing surfaces for cooperation with the inclined sealing surfaces 19 of the framework. The framework is further provided with a shelf 23 which projects therefrom in the up-stream direction. This shelf 23 carries adjustable limiting screws 24 which are adjustable from the dry side of the gate and whose upper ends are designed for contact with the I-beams 25 which are carried by the upper edge of the gate. These I-heams 25 project in a downstream direction from the gate and overlap the shelf 23 so that, when the gate is moved into its lowermost position, the under surfaces of these I-beams will come into contact with the adjustable limiting screws 24 and prevent the gate from moving so far downwardly into closed position as to create a wedging contact that would render difiic-ult theopening of the gate.

The shelf 23 of the frame is further provided with flanges 26 which are slotted as at 27 forthe reception of bolts 28. These bolts 28 extend through the slots 27 and are threaded into adjustable sealing members 29. The upper edges of these sealing members 29 are designed to contact with cross pieces 30 which are rigidly carried upon the gate 15. It will be understood that, after the'lowermost position of the gate is determined by proper adjustment of the limiting screws 24 to position the immovable horizontal sealing surfaces in proper relation, the sealing strips 29 are adjusted by loosening the 'bolts 28, setting these strips in proper position and then tightening the bolts.

From the precedingdescription, it will be apparent that I have provided a sluice gate whose main sealing surfaces are movable into proper sealing relation without undue slid ing frictional or wedging action. In spite of the fact that these sealing surfaces are inclined from the vertical, the structure of my gate is such that a large part of the vertical component of force of the water offers no resistance to reciprocation of the gate in either direction. Since the skin plate? of the gate is in a plane parallel to the, path 'of travel of the g ate, the vertical component of the force of the water is not effective against this skin plate It is immaterial that it is effective against'the shelf 10, inasmuch as this shelf 10 is rigidly carried by the frame of the gate structure and this frame is immovable.

Where the gate is used on the down-stream side of the sluice-way, the only resistance to the closing of the gate is that of the normal frictional resistance between the guides and rollers. Thus, my gate may be used on the down-stream side of the sluice-way to form a water tight seal without the use of floating seals or similar devices and without the heavy expense previously prevalent in valve structures mainly used for this purpose,

There the gate is used on the Lip-stream side of the sluice-way, the only resistance to the opening of the gate is that of the normal frictional resistance between the guides and rollers and the guideways. In this case, the downward component of force of the water is absorbed by the shelf which projects up-stream from the framework and the gate may therefore be lifted away from closedvp osition without resistance from this source.

It will be seen from this that I have made a great advance in the art, inasmuch as I have the term sluice gate. It will be understood that this invention is not necessarily limited to sluice gates but may cover other forms of gates operating under substantially similar conditions, such as an intake gate or so-called crest gates.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A sluice gate for reciprocation between open and closed position comprising a frame, sealing surfaces on said frame and inclined from the vertical, a shelf projecting from said frame adjacent the upper edges of said sealing surfaces, a gate, and projecting memers on said gate having sealing surfaces for cooperating with the sealing surfaces on said frame.

2. A sluice gate for reciprocation between open and closed position comprising a frame, sealing surfaces on said frame and inclined from the vertical, a shelf projecting from said frame adjacent the upper edges of said sealing surfaces, a gate having a sealing surface cooperating with the edge of said shelf, and projecting members on said gate having sealing surfaces for cooperating with the inclined sealing surfaces on said frame.

3. A sluice gate for reciprocation between open and closed position comprising a frame, sealing surfaces on said frame and inclined from the vertical, a shelf projecting from said frame adjacent the upper edges of said sealing surfaces, a gate havng a sealing surface cooperating with the edge of said shelf, projecting members on said gate having sealing surfaces for cooperating with the inclined sealing surfaces on said frame, and sealing members between the upper surface of said shelf and said gate.

4. A sluice gate for reciprocation between open and closed position comprising a frame, sealing surfaces on said frame and inclined from the vertical, a shelf projecting from said frame adjacent the upper edges of said sealing surfaces, a gate having sealing surfaces cooperating with the edge of said shelf, projecting members on said gate having sealing surfaces for cooperating with the inclined sealing surfaces on said frame, and adjustable sealing members between the upper surface of said shelf and said gate.

5. A sluice gate comprising a frame with sealing surfaces inclined from the vertical and with a projecting shelf, and a gate comprising projecting members coacting with such sealing surfaces and embracing said shelf.

6. A sluice gate comprising a frame, a projecting shelf, inclined sealing surfaces on said frame, a gate having a skin plate in a plane substantially parallel with the path of movement of the gate and complemental inclined sealing surfaces, and sealing members for cooperation with the top of said shelf.

7. A sluice gate for reciprocation between signature.

ERWIN B. PHILIPS. 

